Cisco Meraki MR42
802.11ac Wave 2 with Dedicated Security & Bluetooth Beacons

Features:

Aggregate data rate of up to 1.9 Gbps

A 5 GHz 3x3:3 802.11ac Wave 2 radio and a 2.4 GHz 3x3:3 802.11ac radio offer a combined 1.9 Gbps dual-radio aggregate frame rate. Supports up to 1,300 Mbps in the 5 GHz band and 600 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. Technologies like transmit beamforming and enhanced receive sensitivity allow the MR42 to support a higher client density than typical enterprise-class access points, resulting in fewer APs for a given deployment.

Multi User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO)

With support for the 802.11ac Wave 2 standard, the MR42 offers MU-MIMO for efficient transmission to multiple clients. Especially suited for enviroments with numerous mobile devices, MU-MIMO enables multiple clients to receive data simultanously. This increases the total network perfomance and improves the end user experience.

Third radio delivers 24x7 wireless security and RF analytics

The MR42's sophisticated, dedicated dual-band radio scans the environment continuously, characterizing RF interference and containing wireless threats like rogue access points. No longer choose between wireless security, advanced RF analysis, and serving client data: a dedicated third radio means that all three occur in real-time, without any impact to client traffic or AP throughput.

Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon and scanning radio

An integrated fourth radio for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) provides seamless deployment of BLE Beacon functionality and effortless visibility of BLE devices. The MR42 enables the next generation of locationaware applications while futureproofing your deployment, making it ready for any new customer engagement strategies.

Automatic cloud-based RF optimization

The MR42's sophisticated, automated RF optimization means that there is no need for the dedicated hardware and RF expertise typically required to tune a wireless network. The RF analysis data collected by the dedicated third radio is continuously fed back to the Meraki cloud. This then automatically tunes the MR42's channel selection, transmit power, and client connection settings for optimal performance under even the most challenging RF conditions.

Integrated enterprise security and guest access

The MR42 features integrated, easy-to-use security technologies to provide secure connectivity for employees and guests alike. Advanced security features such as AES hardware-based encryption and WPA2- Enterprise authentication with 802.1X and Active Directory integration provide wire-like security while still being easy to configure. One-click guest isolation provides secure, Internet-only access for visitors. Our policy firewall (Identity Policy Manager) enables granular access control at the group or device level. PCI compliance reports check network settings against PCI requirements to simplify secure retail deployments.

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) & Mobile Device Management (MDM) integration

Meraki Systems Manager natively integrates with the MR42 to offer simple automatic security that is context aware. Rapidly deploy self-service MDM enrolment without installing additional equipment or dynamically tie firewall policies to client posture. End-to-end security has never been so easy.

Application-aware traffic shaping

The MR42 includes an integrated layer 7 packet inspection, classification, and control engine, enabling you to set QoS policies based on traffic type. Prioritize your mission critical applications, while setting limits on recreational traffic, e.g., peer-to-peer and video streaming. Importantly, controls can be implemented per network, per SSID, per user group, or per individual user.

Voice and video optmizations

Industry standard QoS features are easy to configure and come built in. Wireless Multi Media (WMM) access categories, 802.1p, and DSCP industry standards all ensure important applications get priorotized correctly, not only on the MR42, but on other steps in the traffic flow. Unscheduled Automatic Power Save Delivery (U-APSD) ensures minimal battery drain on wireless VoIP phones.

Low-profile, modern, user friendly design

Despite its extensive capabilities, the MR42 is packaged in a sleek, low-profile enclosure that blends seamlessly into any environment. This makes it ideal for modern offices, high end retail locations, and discrete deployments. Using human interface design principles, even the physical installation and mounting experience has been developed to eliminate error and simplify installation process.

Self-configuring, self-maintaining, always up-to-date

When plugged in, the MR42 automatically connects to the Meraki cloud, downloads its configuration, and joins the appropriate network. If new firmware is required, this is retrieved by the AP and updated automatically. This ensures the network is maintained with bug fixes, security updates, and new features managed for you.

Advanced analytics

Drill down into exceptional detail with highly granular traffic analytics. Understand how your network is used with access to numerous datasets. Extend your visibility to the physical world with journey tracking through location analytics. View vistor numbers, dwell time, repeat visit rates, and track trends. Fully customize your analysis with raw data available via simple APIs.

Highlights:

• Performance-critical wireless LANs
• High-density environments

• 3 radios: 2.4 and 5 GHz, dual-band WIDS/WIPS
• 3-stream 802.11ac Wave 2 and 802.11n, up to 1.9 Gbps
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• PoE: Full functionality under 802.3at (compatible with 802.3af)
• AC adapter available

• Network-wide visibility and control
• Self-provisioning for rapid deployment
• Automatic reporting
• Seamless firmware updates

• 802.1X and native Active Directory integration
• Air Marshal: real-time WIPS with forensics
• Stateful Layer 3-7 firewall
• Identity-based group policies
• Built-in antivirus scan (NAC)

• 1-click secure guest access
• Guest isolation firewall
• Customizable splash pages
• Integrated Facebook login

• Dual-concurrent radios with MU-MIMO support
• Radios optimized for rate-vs-range performance
• Third radio dedicated to security and RF management
• Built-in real-time RF spectrum view
• Cloud-based automatic RF optimization

• Classifies hundreds of applications
• Create per-application bandwidth limits
• Prioritize productivity apps
• Restrict or block recreational traffic

• Measure visitor capture rate, visit length, and repeat visit rate
• Measure visitor trends over time and compare performance across locations

• Create device-specific firewall rules
• Monitor and track device inventory
• Deploy applications and enforce security settings

Specifications:

RF Performance Table:

Signal Coverage Pattern:

Compare Access Points:

	MR20	MR30H	MR33	MR42	MR42E
Usage	Basic wireless, very low-density deployments	In-room hotel or dormitory deployments that must service IP-enabled devices	Basic 802.11ac Wave 2 for futureproof deployments	General purpose 802.11ac Wave 2 for campus and enterprise	General purpose wireless, challenging RF, or focused coverage scenarios
Radio specification	1 x 802.11b/g/n 1 x 802.11a/n/ac 1.3 Gbit/sec max rate 2x2:2 MU-MIMO with beamforming	1 x 802.11b/g/n 1 x 802.11a/n/ac 1 x WIDS/WIPS 1 x Bluetooth 1.3 Gbit/sec max rate 2x2:2 MU-MIMO with beamforming	1 x 802.11b/g/n 1 x 802.11a/n/ac 1 x WIDS/WIPS 1 x Bluetooth 1.9 Gbit/sec max rate 2x2:2 MU-MIMO with beamforming	1 x 802.11b/g/n 1 x 802.11a/n/ac 1 x WIDS/WIPS 1 x Bluetooth 1.3 Gbit/sec max rate 3x3:3 MU-MIMO with beamforming	1 x 802.11b/g/n 1 x 802.11a/n/ac 1 x WIDS/WIPS 1 x Bluetooth 1.3 Gbit/sec max rate 3x3:3 MU-MIMO with beamforming
Interface	1 x Gigabit Ethernet port	1 x 10/100/1000 BASE-T Ethernet (RJ45) input 1 x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) with 802.3af Power over Ethernet output 3x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) outputs	1 x Gigabit Ethernet port	1 x Gigabit Ethernet port	1 x Gigabit Ethernet port
Power	802.3af PoE DC power adaptor	802.3af PoE	802.3af PoE DC power adaptor	802.3af PoE DC power adaptor	802.3at/802.3af PoE DC power adaptor
Performance features	2x2:2 MU-MIMO Priority Voice, Power Save (802.11e/WMM) Hardware-accelerated encryption Band steering	2x2:2 MU-MIMO Hardware-accelerated encryption Band steering	2x2:2 SU-MIMO Priority Voice, Power Save (802.11e/WMM) Hardware-accelerated encryption Band steering	3x3:3 MU-MIMO Priority Voice, Power Save (802.11e/WMM) Hardware-accelerated encryption Band steering	3x3:3 MU-MIMO Priority Voice, Power Save (802.11e/WMM) Hardware-accelerated encryption Band steering Removable antennas

Documentation:

Download the Cisco Meraki MR42 Datasheet (PDF).

Download the Cisco Meraki MR Family Datasheet (PDF).